HOLY ROLLERS With Jesse Eisenberg – Sundance Movie Review

HOLY ROLLERS, directed by Kevin Asch, tells the story of Sam Gold (Jesse Eisenberg), a young devout Hasidic man who lives with his family in Brooklyn. Sam works with his father while also studying to become a rabbi. He is also intent on getting married and starting a family as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the fact that his family is poor limits his prospects and the fact that his father does not want him to make more money frustrates him even more. An encounter with his neighbor Yosef introduces young Sammy to the world of drug smuggling and the myriads of temptations associated with it. This introduction puts Sammy in a state of confusion that challenges his most deeply held beliefs and changes his life profoundly.

I quite enjoyed watching Holy Rollers. The story of a hasidic man struggling with his faith and his desires was weirdly entertaining to watch. The whole progression of the movie had a very organic flow to it, which made everything that happened seem believable and not laugh out loud. The religious aspect was portrayed in a very authentic and non stereotypical way.

Jesse Eisenberg carries this movie and does it well. His performance as Sammy was strong and believable. He made his character so likable that you were actually rooting for him to pass through customs with a suitcase full of ecstasy. Even at his worst, Sammy never loses his innocence which makes the audience feel for him even more.

Overall, Holy Rollers was a solid movie with a good story and a lovable character. I hope it gets picked and released soon. Until then, you can watch a trailer of sorts by watching a compilation of clips of the movie Holy Rollers below.